Tree Care

Grand Avenue Species

Mass Ave once had miles of shady allées planted entirely with American lindens. Today a variety of large-type shade trees are planted of species appropriate for the 21st century.

Linden Tilia

A popular and admired tree in Europe. Mass Ave was planted with T. americana for miles to match the fabled Berlin thoroughfare. In 1904, these double rows were continued west from Florida Avenue. Some still stand today.

Linden leaves

Linden fruit

Silver linden bracts, fruit

American linden, planted 1904

Elm Ulmus americana

This iconic tree of US streets and parks was ravaged by Dutch Elm Disease in the 20th C. Today disease-resistant types “Princeton” and “Valley Forge” grow fast and well.

Elm leaves

Our RMA sign on a young elm

Row of Princeton elms, Zambia Embassy

Zelkova Zelkova serrata

A hardy tree with leaves similar to elm but a more rounded tree form. Zelkova rows now grace 23 St between Mass Ave and Q St.

Zelkova leaves

Zelkova leaves and stem

Zelkova fall leaves

Form of tree

Oak (Quercus)

Several kinds of oak trees are growing well here.

Northern Red Oak Q. rubra

Red oak fall leaf

Red oak acorns

Swamp White Oak Q. bicolor

Swamp white oak leaf

Swamp white oak bark

Overcup Oak Q. lyrata

Overcup oak leaf

Overcup oak acorns

Willow Oak Q. phellos

Willow oak leaf

Willow oak allee, 2540 Mass Ave

London Plane Tree Platanus x acerfolia

Rows of tall plane trees create lacey patterns of dappled light along the street. The tree’s tan-and-cream bark shows it is related to the sycamore.

Plane tree fruit

Plane tree leaf

Plane tree bark

Plane tree Mass and Fla Ave

Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba

The ginkgo, from Asia, is likely the oldest living tree species on earth and are one of DC’s hardiest and most striking tree species.

Ginkgo and tulip poplar foliage

Young ginkgo

Aged ginkgo 1904 Latvia Embassy

Ginkgo leaf

Tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipifera

Not a poplar but in the magnolia family, this tree grows tall and stately. It is a host for butterflies and other wildlife and great at removing air pollution.

Tulip poplar flowers and leaves

Tulip poplar flower

Tulip poplar Fall leaf

Tulip poplar, fall, Romanian Embassy

Sources: Melanie Choukas-Bradley and Polly Alexander, City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, D.C., University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville, Va.
Keith Rushforth and Charles Hollis, National Geographic Field Guide to the Trees of North America, National Geographic, Washington, D.C.